Lockheed Martin Launches Innovate the Future Challenge

Innovation knows no boundaries. From our local communities to outer space, we are facing a wide range of global issues. We need to work together to meet these needs.

Early in August, Lockheed Martin raised the bar on global innovation with a contest engaging science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines in its Innovate the Future Challenge. Open innovation challenges like this one offer opportunities to create collaboration across industries, borders, and professions as we consider “big” possibilities.

Planetary Society members and other visitors to the Society's website are encouraged to participate in the challenge. Submit your ideas for ways that we can create a more secure future for the planet through an online portal . The deadline is September 30, 2012. Up to five winning ideas will be selected for cash prizes totaling up to $50,000 and will be considered for incubation support services by a committee consisting of Lockheed Martin employees and at least one independent evaluator.

We invite you to share your game-changing ideas for next generation space exploration, among many other topics. These ideas can be as far-ranging as sustainable colonies in space to closer to home concepts, such as education initiatives that will support the next generation of astronauts. As an example of a driving area of interest, the contest recognizes the growing importance of affordability. We know that Mars Sample Return needs a new baseline propulsion system to make it even more affordable. Ideas about how to achieve that outcome are welcome! Affordability should not drive success, but it needs to be considered in today’s economy.

As we expand the frontiers of human exploration on this planet and into space, we seek a vibrant community of inventors and scientists. Join us in the pursuit of new and next generation ideas that can have positive impacts on our communities near and far.